Quick-change tooling system

Abstract

A quick-change tooling system includes a plurality of pickers each configured to pick specific items, and a plurality of magazines each configured to hold a stack of the items. A pick and place machine includes a carriage for moving the pickers between a picking location adjacent the magazine and a placing location. The carriage includes a quick-release clamp assembly that allows pickers for different items to be changed quickly and without the use of tools. The magazines and product support plates upon which items are also configured to be changed without the use of tools.

1. A quick-change tooling system for a device, the device including a moveable support shaft and a vacuum source, the tooling system comprising:
 first and second side supports coupled to the support shaft for movement therewith; 
 a manifold coupled to the support shaft for movement therewith and for communicating with the vacuum source; 
 a clamp moveable relative to the manifold between a disengaged position and an engaged position; and 
 a plurality of pickers, each picker being selectively engageable with the side supports, the manifold, and the clamp assembly for movement with the support shaft and communication with the vacuum source, each picker including an arrangement of picking members for picking and placing a corresponding item, wherein the picking members communicate with the vacuum source via the manifold, 
 wherein the manifold is a first manifold and each picker includes a second manifold, and wherein the second manifold is sealingly coupled to the first manifold by moving the clamp from the disengaged position to the engaged position. 
 
     
     
       2. The quick-change tooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is coupled to the first manifold and is pivotable between the disengaged position and the engaged position, wherein the clamp biases the second manifold into sealing engagement with the first manifold when the clamp is in the engaged position. 
     
     
       3. The quick-change tooling system of  claim 2 , wherein the clamp pivots about an axis and includes a roller that is biased toward the axis, wherein the second manifold includes a detent, and wherein when the clamp is moved to the engaged position, the roller engages the detent. 
     
     
       4. A quick-change tooling system for a device, the device including a moveable support shaft and a vacuum source, the tooling system comprising:
 first and second side supports coupled to the support shaft for movement therewith; 
 a manifold coupled to the support shaft for movement therewith and for communicating with the vacuum source; 
 a clamp moveable relative to the manifold between a disengaged position and an engaged position; and 
 a plurality of pickers, each picker being selectively engageable with the side supports, the manifold, and the clamp assembly for movement with the support shaft and communication with the vacuum source, each picker including an arrangement of picking members for picking and placing a corresponding item, wherein the picking members communicate with the vacuum source via the manifold, 
 wherein each picker includes a mounting plate, and wherein the mounting plate is slidingly received between the first and second side supports, and 
 wherein the manifold is a first manifold and each picker includes a second manifold coupled to the mounting plate, wherein the pickers include substantially identical second manifolds and unique arrangements of picking members. 
 
     
     
       5. A quick-change tooling system for a device, the device including a moveable support shaft and a vacuum source, the tooling system comprising:
 first and second side supports coupled to the support shaft for movement therewith; 
 a manifold coupled to the support shaft for movement therewith and for communicating with the vacuum source; 
 a clamp moveable relative to the manifold between a disengaged position and an engaged position; and 
 a plurality of pickers, each picker being selectively engageable with the side supports, the manifold, and the clamp assembly for movement with the support shaft and communication with the vacuum source, each picker including an arrangement of picking members for picking and placing a corresponding item, wherein the picking members communicate with the vacuum source via the manifold, 
 wherein the device includes a heater carriage, the quick-change tooling system further comprising: 
 first and second side guides coupled to the heater carriage, the side guides each including a locking pin; 
 a lower stop coupled to the heater carriage between the side guides; 
 a plurality of interchangeable heater plates, each heater plate selectively engageable with the side guides and removably secured thereto by the locking pins, each heater plate including at least one heater block coupled to a first side of the heater plate, and an upper stop coupled to a second, opposite side of the heater plate. 
 
     
     
       6. A quick-change picker assembly for a pick and place device, the assembly comprising:
 a first manifold communicating with a vacuum source and defining an opening; 
 a pair of side supports coupled to the manifold; 
 a mounting plate received between and supported by the side supports; 
 a second manifold coupled to the mounting plate and defining a chamber, the second manifold engaging the first manifold to afford communication between the chamber and the vacuum source via the first manifold, engagement between the second manifold and the first manifold limiting movement of the mounting plate relative to the side supports in a first direction; and 
 a clamp moveable relative to the manifold between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the clamp limiting movement of the mounting plate relative to the side supports in a second direction opposite the first direction when the clamp is in the engaged position. 
 
     
     
       7. The quick-change picker assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the clamp is pivotably coupled to the first manifold and is pivotable between the disengaged position and the engaged position. 
     
     
       8. The quick-change picker assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the clamp pivots about an axis and includes a roller that is biased toward the axis, wherein the second manifold includes a detent, and wherein when the clamp is moved to the engaged position, the roller engages the detent. 
     
     
       9. The quick-change picker assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each side support defines a groove, and wherein the grooves open toward one another, the picker assembly further comprising a pair of guides, each guide received by one of the grooves and engaging edges of the mounting plate. 
     
     
       10. The quick-change picker assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the second manifold is coupled to a first side of the mounting plate, the picker assembly further comprising at least one picking member coupled to a second, opposite side of the mounting plate, the picking member defining a passageway, and the mounting plate defining an aperture communicating with the passageway. 
     
     
       11. The quick-change picker assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second manifold defines an opening communicating with the chamber, the picker assembly further comprising a conduit extending between the aperture in the mounting plate and the opening in the second manifold to afford communication between the second manifold chamber and the picking member passageway. 
     
     
       12. A method for changing a configuration of a packaging machine having a vacuum source, the packaging machine including a carriage portion that is moveable between a picking location adjacent a magazine holder, and a placing location adjacent a product support holder, the carriage portion including side supports, the method comprising:
 removing from the carriage portion a first picker configured to pick and place a first item, including moving a clamp assembly to a disengaged position, thereby disengaging the first picker from the vacuum source, and extracting the first picker from between the side supports; 
 installing onto the carriage portion a second picker configured to pick and place a second item, including inserting the second picker between the side supports and moving the clamp assembly to an engaged position to thereby engage the second picker with the vacuum source; 
 removing from the magazine holder a first magazine configured to support a stack of the first item; 
 installing onto the magazine holder a second magazine configured to support a stack of the second item, whereby the second picker is operable to remove individual ones of the second item from the second magazine holder; 
 removing from the product support holder a first product support plate configured to support the first item; and 
 installing onto the product support holder a second product support plate configured to support the second item, whereby the second picker is operable to place the individual ones of the second item onto the second product support plate. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein moving the clamp assembly to the engaged position includes pivoting the clamp assembly to detently engage a manifold of the second picker. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein inserting the second picker between the side supports includes sliding edges of the second picker into slots defined by the side supports. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein installing the second magazine includes inserting an upper edge of the second magazine into a slot defined by the magazine holder, overcoming a biasing force that resists insertion of the upper edge into the slot, pivoting the second magazine toward a support plate spaced from the slot, and allowing the biasing force to urge the second magazine into engagement with a lip of the support plate. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein moving the clamp assembly to the engaged position includes fluidly connecting a manifold of the second picker to the vacuum source for communication therewith, and limiting movement of the mounting plate in at least one direction.